Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 14

Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

यतस्त्वं जलराशीशस्तस्माद्देयं जलं मम । अक्षयं सर्वदेवेश दिव्यं नित्यफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

yatastvaṃ jalarāśīśastasmāddeyaṃ jalaṃ mama | akṣayaṃ sarvadeveśa divyaṃ nityaphalapradam

Translation

御身は大海の水を司る主であるがゆえに、ゆえにこの水を御身に奉る。おお一切の神々の主よ、この神聖なる供物が尽きることなく、常にして永遠の果報を授け給わんことを。

Word by Word

• यतः: since/because
• यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतुवाचक (causal adverb: since/because)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

• जल-राशि-ईशः: lord of the ocean/heap of waters
• जल-राशि-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + राशि + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); समास: जलानां राशेः ईशः (lord of the mass of waters)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति-प्रयोग (Ablative used adverbially: therefore/from that reason)

• देयम्: to be given/granted
• देयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be given’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable/inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• सर्व-देव-ईश: O Lord of all gods
• सर्व-देव-ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular); समास: सर्वेषां देवानाम् ईशः

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• नित्य-फल-प्रदम्: granting eternal results
• नित्य-फल-प्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); समास: नित्यं फलम् प्रददाति इति (giver of eternal fruit)

Speaker

A devotee/pilgrim addressing Lord Shiva (Jyotirlinga worship context narrated by Suta Goswami)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Water is offered to the Lord as ‘jalarāśīśa’ (lord of the mass of waters), seeking an akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit/result—typical of tīrtha-establishment motifs where a finite act becomes an enduring source of fruit.

Significance: Frames jalābhiṣeka/dāna as akṣaya-phala: a small offering becomes perpetually fruitful when dedicated to the Lord with right intention.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that even a simple offering like water, when given to Shiva with recognition of his all-pervading lordship, becomes “akṣaya” (inexhaustible) in spiritual merit and yields steady, lasting fruit—devotion ripening toward Shiva’s grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse aligns with jalābhiṣeka to the Shiva Linga: the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva through a tangible rite (offering water), while the intent points to Shiva as the cosmic Lord beyond forms, who accepts devotion offered through the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Jalābhiṣeka (water libation) to the Shiva Linga with prayer for “akṣaya-phala,” ideally accompanied by Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a bhakti-filled sankalpa.